Apparatus for removing boots and shoes from lasts



Aug. 7, 1934. c. E. ROWE 1,969,097

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING BOOTS AND SHOES FROM LASTS Filed Jan. 29, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l c. E. ROWE 1,969,097

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING BOOTS AND SHOES FROM LASTS Filed Jan. 29, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 7, 1934 PATENT oFFIcE APPARATUS ,FOR REMOVING BOOTS AND SHOES FROM LASTS Charles Edward Rowe, Ballarat, Victoria,

7 Australia Application January 29, 1934, Serial No. 708,901 In Australia November 24, 1932 12 Claims. (Cl. 12-9151) This invention is directed to an improvement in apparatus for removing boots and shoes from a last, and is more particularly directed to a construction wherein the heel portion of the boot or shoe is removed from the last and the complete .10 the provision of means by which, through the actuation of a single manually controlled element, the heel portion of a boot or shoe on a last may be removed from the last, with the manually operable element simultaneously setting a boot or shoe removing element under pressure which, on the separation of the heel of the boot or shoe from the last, acts to complete the removal of the shoe as an entirety from the last.

In connection with the means for removing the heel of the boot or shoe from the last, the present improvement is somewhat similar in operation to that described in Patent #1,938,465, issued to me December 5, 1933, and the present invention is directed broadly to combining with a somewhat similar heel removing element to that described in the said patent, means for exerting a pressure upon the'boot or shoe in the direction of the last immediately following the removal of the heel portion from the last to'thus completely remove the shoe from the last as a direct result of the single operation necessary to perfect the removal of the heel portion of the boot or shoe from the last.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing the shoe on the last and the parts in substantially normal relations.

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a broken elevation showing the parts operated to remove the heel portionof the shoe from the last and a partial operation of the shoe removing means. 7

Figure 4 is a partial elevation showing the last in position on the standard, the stop plate for holding the last against turning, and the rubbing plate in position on the standard.

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 3, showing a high shoe in position on the last and a slightly modified form of heel removing means. Y

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the heel'removing element used in'connection with low shoes.

The improved apparatus comprises a base 2 of appropriate type and designed to support the construction, a standard 3, preferably hollow, rising from the base to an appropriate height. A shank 4 is fitted in the upper end of the hollow standard andsecured in position by-a threaded pin 6 pass.- ing through the shank and wall of the standard, and preferably a pin 11 is fitted into the shank andcarries the last 12 which is thus supported wholly above the standard 3.

The pin 6 adjustably supports a last stop 8, which stop is threaded-for the passage of .the pin and is clamped against the standard by a lock nut threaded on the pin. The upper end of the stop is slotted to cooperate with the lower portion of the last and prevent the last from changing its position rotatively with respect to the pin 11. The end of the pin 6 on the side of the standard 3 opposite the stop 8 is provided with a rubbing plate 5 serving .the function of guiding the heel removing element in a. manner to be described.

The standard 3 below the upper end is slotted to receive one end of a bar 14 pivotally connected to the standard by an appropriate pivot, the upper and lower Walls of the slots through which the bar passes being formed with a view to limiting the operative and inoperative positions of the bar in an obvious manner. The bar 14 is connected and operated through the medium of a link 22 connected at its upper end at 23 to the bar 14 and at its lower end at 21 to a lever 18, which lever passes through slots in the standard wall and is pivotally mounted therein on a pin 19. The slots for the lever are also formed to limit the operative and inoperative positions of the lever, as described in connection with the bar 14.

The longer end of the lever is provided with a foot receiving portion or pedal 20, and a spring 41 connects the lever and standard to normally maintain the lever and connected partsin an inoperative position. Obviously, through movement of the lever, the bar 14 is moved upwardly and downwardly, the latter movement being under the. influence of the spring 41. An upright 26 is pivotally connected at 28 adjacent the free end of the bar 14, the upright being formed with a plurality of openings 27 to receive the pivot pin for desired vertical adjustment in the upright.

"An ofiset portion 26 at the upper end of the upright receives an arm 29 which is adjustably positioned thereon and fixed in adjusted relation through the medium of a set screw. The inner end of the arm 29 carries the heel removing element which, when the apparatus is designed for use in connection with the conventional low shoe, as shown in Figure 1, is in the form shown in Figure 6. As shown, such element involves a body 32 with a tapered nose 42 formed to conform to the shape of the heel of the last, and. a finger grip 43. The upper end of the offset portion 2G of the upright 26. is provided with a block 34 capable of being adjusted and secured in desired position on said offset portion.

Freely slidable through the block are rods'35-v limited in movement in one direction by adjustable stops 35secured on said rods; Theends of the rods 35 next the last are connected to a pressurepad 36 which conforms to the shape 011 the, hee1 .,v of the shoe and may be appropriately paddedqor otherwise formed to avoid. marring the, shoe.

Springs 37 encircle the rods '35"between the shoe removing element 36 and the block 3'4.

The bar 14 is extended beyond its, pivotal connection with the upright 26 and is formed with an upstanding terminalthreadedfor the reception of a limiting screw 38, the freeend of which is designed to contact with the upright 26 in the operation of the parts, the degree and relation of which contact may be varied by adjustment of the screw 38 in an obvious manner.- A spring 15 connects the standard 3 and the upright 26 to maintain the parts in desired relation and cooperation during 'movement to effect the removal of the shoe. If-desired and as preferred, the upright 3 may be provided with a hollow'receptacle '7 forming a shelf or box for the reception of tools for the workman.- 5

In the normal condtio'n of the parts, theheel removing element 32 overlies the last'below the heel portion of the shoe thereon, and the shoe removing element 36 is=held against the'heel portion of the shoe, with the springs 37 under slight tension. The operator by pressure on-the finger piece 43 of the" heel removing elementguides this element against the plate 5 and so directs the toe portion 42 of the element between the heelof the shoe and the corresponding portion of the last. Pressure on the treaclle 20 raises the'bar 14-an'd with it the upright 26 and connected parts. This moves thearm 29 upwardly, causing the heel-removing element 32 to stretch theheel andseparate it from the last and at the same time move the heel of the shoe upwardly with'respect tothe last. 1

In the upwardmovement of the bar'14, the end of the limiting screw 38 has forced the upright 26 inwardly, thereby increasing'the'tension on the springs 37, so that as the heel-removing element 32 forces the heel of theshoe oil of the last, the shoe removing element'BS operates automatically under the influence of the springs 37' to remove the toe, portion of the shoe from the'last,"or more exactly complete the removal of the shoe from the last. In this movement, the heel'removing element 32 moves over the heel of the last and between the sole portion'of the last and the upper edge of the shoe, as shown more particularly in Figure 3.

Where the apparatus. is'employed for the removal .of a high shoe fromthe last, asillustrated in- Figure 5, the heel removing element shown in Figure 7 includes a body 32", a heelengaging-and conforming portion 42", and a handle orgriptportion 43 This element for use in connection with high shoes isn'ormally of greater length than is the element for use with low shoes, and the formation of the heel engaging'terminal-Qis somewhatdifierent to permitsuch heel engaging'portion to pass between the upper of the shoe and the last and reach the heel portion proper of the shoe before the removal operation is attempted. 1

In use in connection with this type of heel removing element, the handle portion 43' is held against the plate 5 and the 'heel'removing element passedbetween the upper and last, being guided so that following depression of the lever '18, the heel removing terminal 42' of the heel removing element will pass between the heel of the shoe and the last and move the shoe upward- ;ly untilit is separated from the last. Of course,

the elements 32 and 32 differ in length and in formation in order that the effective operation of separating the heel from the last and the complete upward movement of the shoe, whether high or low, toa position above the last to permit the autom-atic movement of the shoe removing element may loc -performed.

It is to be understood that the parts in an apparatus for. use in connectionwith a high shoe or a low shoe are identical, except in the formation and length of the shoe, removing element, and that the parts referred to by reference numeral in Figure 5 are intended to represent the parts similarly numbered shown in the other figures, as their construction and operation are identical. V,

I claim:-- 1

1. An apparatus for removing shoes from alast including a last-supporting standard, a bar pivotedto the standard, an upright pivotally con nected to the bar, an arm carriedby the upright, a heel removing element pivotally connected to the arm, a shoe removingelementcarried by the upright above the arm, bars slidably connecting the shoe removing element to the upright, springs encircling said bars and tensioned in the movement of the upright toward thesh0c,;means for moving the bar upwardly in operation, and means carried by the bar to engage the upright in the up Ward movement of the bar and force the upper end of the, upright toward the shoe to tension the springs of the shoe removing element.

2. An apparatus for removing shoes-from .a last including alast-supporting standard, a bar pivoted to the standard, an upright pivotally connected to the bar, an arm carried by the upright, a heel removing element pivotally connected to the arm, a shoe removing element carried by the upright above the arm, bars slidably connecting the'shoe removing element to the upright, springs encircling said'bars and tensioned in the movement of the upright toward the shoe, means for moving the bar upwardly in operation, and a set screw carried by the bar to engage the upright in the upward movement of the bar and force the upper end of the upright toward the shoe to tension the springs of the shoe removing element.

3. An apparatus for removing shoes from a last includinga last supporting standard, a bar pivotally supported thereby, a manually operable lever carried by the standard, a connection be.- tween said lever and bar to move. the bar upwardly in the operative movement of the lever, an upright pivotally connected to the bar, an arm-carried by the upright, a heel removing element pivotally connected to the arm, a shoe removing element arranged above the arm, rods slid'ably connecting said element and upright, springs encircling said-rods, and means carried by the bar to engage the upright and tensionsaid 'springs'in theupward movement of the bar.

4. An apparatus for removing shoes from alast :including a last supporting standard, a bar pivotally supported thereby, a'manually operable lever carried by the standard, a connection between said lever and bar to move the bar upwardly in the operative movement of the lever, an upright pivotally connected to the bar, an arm carried by the upright, a heel removing element pivotally connected to the arm, a shoe removing element arranged above the arm, rods slidably connecting said element and upright, springs encircling said rods, and a set screw carried by the bar to engage the upright and tension said springs in the upward movement of the bar.

5. In an apparatus for removing shoes from lasts including a last-carrying standard, a bar pivotally connected thereto, an upright pivotally connected to the bar, means for swinging the bar upwardly in operation, an arm carried by the upright, a heel removing element pivotal1y connected to the arm and including a heel receiving portion, a finger piece, a plate on the standard against which the finger piece of the heel removing element is to be held to guide the element in operation, and a shoe removing element carried by th upright and normally engaging the shoe on the last, and means for tensioning the shoe removing element for automatic operation in the upward movement of the bar.

6. In an apparatus for removing shoes from lasts including a last-carrying standard, a bar pivotally connected thereto, an upright pivotally connected to the bar, means for swinging the bar upwardly in operation, an arm carried by the upright, a heel removing element pivotal1y connected to the arm and including a heel receiving portion and a finger piece, a plate on the standard against which the finger piece of the heel removing element is to be held to guide the element in operation, a shoe removing element carried by the upright and normally engaging the shoe on the last, and means for tensioning the shoe removing element for automatic operation in the upward movement of the bar, said means being adjustable.

7. In an apparatus for removing shoes from lasts including a last-carrying standard, a bar pivotally connected thereto, an upright pivotally connected to the bar, means for swinging the bar upwardly in operation, an arm carried by the upright, a heel removing element pivotal1y connected to the arm and including a heel receiving portion and a finger piece, a plate on the standard against which the finger piece of the heel removing element is to be held to guide the element in operation, a shoe removing element carried by the upright and normally engaging the shoe on the last, and means for tensioning the shoe removing element for automatic operation in the upward movement of the bar, said means including a set screw carried by the bar and engaging the upright in the upward movement of the bar.

8. In an apparatus for removing shoes from lasts including a last-carrying standard, a bar pivotally connected thereto, an upright pivotally connected to the bar, means for swinging the bar upwardly in operation, an arm carried by the upright, a heel removing element pivotal1y connected to the arm and including a heel receiving portion and a finger piece, a plate on the standard against which the finger piece of theheel removing element is to be held to guide the element in operation, a shoe removing element carried by the upright and normally engaging the shoe on the last, means for tensioning the shoe removing element for automatic operation in the upward movement of the bar, and a stop plate adjustably carried by the standard for preventing turning of the last relative to the standard.

9. In an apparatus for removing shoes from lasts, a pivotal1y supported arm, means for moving the arm on its pivot, an upright pivotal1y connected at its lower end to the arm, a heel-removing element pivotal1y supported by the upright, a shoe-removing element movably carried by the upright, springs arranged between the shoeremoving element and the upright and serving when tensioned to exert shoe-removing pressure on said shoe-removing element, and a member carried by the arm and engaging the upright following a predetermined movement of the arm to compel the upper end of the upright to move inwardly to tension said springs.

10. An apparatus for removing shoes from lasts, including a pivotal1y supported arm, means for moving the arm about its pivot, an upright pivotal1y connected to the free end of the arm, a heelremoving element carried by the upright and designed to be inserted between the heel of the shoe and last to move the heel portion of the shoe upwardly with respect to the last in the movement of the upright responsive to the swinging of the arm, a shoe-removing element movably carried by the upright and normally in contact with the heel of the shoe during the upward movement of the upright, means for compelling relative movement of the shoe-removing element to force the shoe from the last following operation of the heelremoving means, and a member carried by the arm and engaging the upright in the movement of the arm to compel movement of the upper end of the upright toward the shoe to tension said means during the operation of the heel-removing element.

11. A construction as defined in claim 10, wherein said member is in the form of a bolt threaded in the arm to adjustably control the inward movement of the upper end of the upright.

12. An apparatus for removing shoes from lasts, including an arm mounted'for swinging, means for swinging the arm, an upright pivotally connected to the free end of the arm, a heelremoving element pivotal1y carried by the upright and adapted in the movement of the arm and IL upright to force the heel of the shoe from the last, a block adjustably carried by the upper end of the upright, a shoe-removing element slidable with respect to said block, a spring interposed between said element and block, and a set-screw 1 carried by the arm and adapted to engage the upright following a predetermined movement of the arm to force the inner end of the upright toward the shoe to thereby tension the spring for subsequent automatic action of the shoe-removing element.

CHARLES E. ROWE. [L.S.] 

